Austria - China: cultural talks in Vienna

04.12.2007

Work programme for the period from 2008 to 2011 adopted

Vienna, 4 December 2007 - Based on the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between the Republic of Austria and the People’s Republic of China, the Mixed Commission held its second session of meetings on 19-20 November and 4 December 2007, at which the cultural exchange programme for the period from 2008 to 2011 was adopted.x

The work programme provides for projects in all fields of cultural relations and safeguards the further development of good relations between the two contracting states. Projects in areas such as schooling, science and higher education, art and culture, youth and sport were presented in greater detail. During the duration of the programme language instruction will be particularly promoted, including an intercultural school project between China and Austria against the background of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008.

Further priorities included the activities of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Beijing and the work of the Cultural and Education Division of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Austria in the interests of bilateral cultural relations.

The Mixed Cultural Commission stressed its satisfaction with cooperation in the field of culture between the two countries so far and expressed its wish to further intensify contacts in the field of culture and art.

The importance of these cultural talks is underlined by the cultural exchange between Austria and the People’s Republic of China, which has been particularly intensive and diverse this year: The CHINA TODAY - Chinese Cultural Weeks, including film, fashion, dance, music and architecture, are currently being held in Vienna, and will end on 14 December. The presentation is being organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, Art und Culture and China’s Ministry of Culture. Moreover, three large exhibitions were held on contemporary Chinese painting this year (at the Museum of Modern Art in Salzburg, at the Kunsthaus in Graz and at the MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art, in Vienna). The exhibition CHINA - FACING REALITY, which is currently being shown at Vienna’s Museum of Modern Art in cooperation with the National Museum in Beijing, will last until 10 February 2008.

An academic music education programme, the Austrian - Chinese Music University in Beijing, which was jointly developed by the three Austrian Universities for Music in Vienna, Graz and Salzburg in cooperation with the China Conservatory of Music, was launched on 8 October, while ars electronica presented an exhibition and the virtual production of a Chinese Kun opera at the first Shanghai eARTS Festival from 19 to 23 October 2007. Furthermore, in 2010 ars electronica will be an official partner at the Shanghai World Expo.

Contact:

Federal Ministry for European and International AffairsAndreas Pawlitschek